Link-mesh machine.



H. W.& G. SMI'IH.y A -LINK MESH MACHINE. APPLIGATAION FILED 'A,1 B..`5, 19'13'.

Patented Nov. 1`1`, 1915 lumili?.

in w.

Patented Nov. 11, A1913.

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.v

8a ,LA U/ @WJ/Misma@ Cba/Mes G. /Smh LINK MESE MACHINE.A APPLIGATION FILED APRE, 191m H. W. @L G. G. SMITH.

TEs ATNT -HAREY W. SMITH' AND CHARLES e. orA rnovrnENCE, RHODE ISLAND, esT SIGNORSTO ANIoKERsoN ART METAL COMPANY, dE PROVIDENCE. RHODE ISLAND,

A CORPORATION 'or RHODE ISLAND.

LINK-WtESH MACHINE.

invasie.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. i1, 1913.

To all @dwaalt may concern:

Beit knownthat-we, HARRYWV. SMITH' and .CHARLES G.' SMITH, citizens ot the ,United States, and residents ot the city ot lProvidence, in the county of Providence and- St-ate of Rhode island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Link- Mesh 'Machines of lwhich the'tollowing isa) specification.

rlhis invention relates to Imachines for automatically making` Wire it'abric,v of the type usually known as ring mesh, and con'- 'sists of a multiplicity of links eachl interengaging with a pluralityof other links,

actuated rack-bars, and means in said bars for feeding said support but hala' step atV the beginning of each return movement.

-A further object of the invention is to :provide adjustable means in said bars Awhereby the positioniot` the ratchet teeth' may be adjusted relative lto the operatinfr Apai/vis sovas to accuratelyT engage said paw t'o feed the, support half the vdiameter of a `lin-k at the beginning ot each return' movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair o .t pawl-controlling bars and |means for connecting said bars together whereby whei yone is moved to the operat ing position tie other is moved to be' inoperative.

Vith these'and other objects in view, the invention consist-s of certain novel features of construction. as will be more tully clescribed ,and particularly pointedoutin the appenderl claims.

Of the accompanying drawings: lfigure' 1 is a plan vifgv of the mesh-forming machine showing our improved mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine showing the adjustable rack bars and actuating cams and the parvis; the pawl casingbeipgin section. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating `one ot the pajvls and its controlling cam bar in perspective. Fig. 4 is a plan-view showing thev edge of the rack bars, the pajvls. and cam1 bars, the

.inner end of said cam bars being operatjilvely connected through the reversing lever. Fig.` is a side elevation, partly insection, showing the carriage, the' supportI for the fabric, and they carriage-actuating mecha nism. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the adjustable eccentiically-mounted friction'- roll, in the end-ot the rack bar, where- 'by said bar may be adjusted longitudinally to set the Ifabric support with relation vto thelink vforming tools. Fig. 'i' is a plan view of the construction illustrated 'in Fig. 6 showingythe sere for locking the-adjusting eccentric after the bar has been set. Fig. S'is a sideelevation, partly in section, showing the reversing handle.' Eig. 9 is a greatly'enlarged j view showing the general arrangement of' he fabric links. Fig. 10 shows an-enlarged View of the pawls and ,rack-bars illustrating the relative 'positions .off the teeth after, inserting thelast linkin a row. Fig'. 1 1 shows the p'awls, as' having` beenreversed and 1n position to b e engage by the other rack to cause-thecarriage toi be 'moved one-haltl step at the beginning ot the return stroke. IFig.l 12 shows the relative position of. the rackbars after having moved the carriage .onehalt step to the right which is .designated by the distance e lbetween the center lines '0.

The general construction of. our present machine is the same asthat 'fully Illustrated vand described in our above-mentioned Ico'- pending' application in-Iwhiclr the table-3() 'of the machine is described as being` pro,-

110 on which is 'mounted the carriage base .11 having brackets 42 tor the shaft ot the Worltfe'edi1ig pin-roll- 411. Said roll may be an integral portion of the shaft. but is preferably a sleevesecured by seteerews Q9. The pins Q8 are 'all spaced to engage links of the tabtic as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and Suitably supported above and somewhat'to the rear of the pin rolt is a hmV 45 in which the roll of completed fabric may be carried. This box is merely a convenience and may be replaced by any other suitable mechanism or device for receiving the work after it leaves the pinroll. 4Vith such a box 45 inl use, the operator simply occasionally takes upthe slack of the fabricjbehind the roll le by revolving the roll of fabric ving ofA the carriage' step by step in the box to wind up the fabric. f

TnFig. 1a reel i6 for the wire @that is employed to make the links, is shown as being suitably supported by a spindle 47. From said reel the wire is passed between upper land lower plates of -a `friction block 48 (Fig. 1), and is then passed to the feed vdevice which may comprise anyvusual or successively formed rings or links will properly interengage with the previously'formed links in the margin of the fabric all of which. mechanism is hereinafter fully described.l

.As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 the box or ,Casing 65 issecured to the carriage base41',

and contains two vertically` vmovable pawls 66 and 66a, which are normally pressed downward bysprings G7. Longitudinally slidable through this casing 65 and on the face' of the carriage 41 is a pair of cam or ypawl controlling bars .68 and 69 each having a downwardly extending end 7 O and 71 respectively. The upper face of each of I these bars is provided with a'recess or notch 72 having. inclined sides or faces and serve the purpose of cams. .The pawls 66 are provided' withv overhanging shoulders 73 each provided .at their lowerends with beveled faces corresponding to the beveled or cam-shaped recess 372 which they are adapted to engage. As will be readily understood when a pawl has its shoulder in the recess it will be in engagement with its rack and when on the high portion of the bar it will be elevated to inoperative position. These bars l(3&3 and 69 are provided each with 'a pin 7l at. their inner or forward ends which pins engage slots 75 in the shifting lever 7G, said lever being pivotally connected tothe carriage 41 by the center lscrew 7 GFwhereby when said lever is moved in one direction the said bars G8 and G9 are moved simultaneously in opposite directions one to raisel its pawl from engagement with its rackandv the other to drop its pawl to nijg'lfaiyggeonnection with said rack. This i support into proper position said 'lever is provided with" a handle 77 whereby it maybe manually operated for 'the purpose of shifting thef'direction of the carriage feed at the will of the operator and an adjustable .pad 78 projects downwardly through said lever to engage the surface of said carriage for the purpose/of retainingthe lever in any desired 'position relative thereto. The position of these controllerbars is automatically shifted.at one end of its travel by the engagement of the cam 79 with the end 70 ofthe bar 68 and at the other end by engagement. of the cam 8O with the end 71 offthe bar-69 whereby when one ofV these bars-is moved inward by contactwith its cam the other is moved out- Awardxthrough the lever 7 6 to raise one pawl from engagement with its vrack-bar and drop the other intoengagement with the oppo! site rack-bar. These two rack-bars S1'-S2 as shown are provided with ratchet or sawshaped teeth 'facing in opposite'directions, that is, the teeth on one bar face in one di# rection and the teeth on the other bar face in the. opposite direction, and' are oppositely reciprocated. through their bearings S3 and 83a. one by the cam S4 and the other by cam S5, thereturn or outward motion being effected bythe springs 90. The end' of each rackbar i's preferably made in substantially a .fork-shape, as illustrated in' Figs. 1 and 7, and between', the branches of the fork is located a friction wheel S6 mounted lon an eccentric center-pin B7. This. center-pin, h'as' its bearing in4 the"v branches of the fork and is retained in 'any desired position by Vmeans of the set-screw S8. Then it is desired to adjust these. bars longitudinally it is only necessary to release the screw S8 and by inserting a screw driver into the slotted end S9 of -the eccentric shaft the eccentric may be rotated so-as to move the friction-rollereither inward or outward to adjust the teeth ofV one rack-bar relative to those of the other and thus position the fabric relative to the forming-'tools In setting or'timing up the machine the fabric support mustfbe adjusted laterally relative to theoperating vposition of this link forming mechanism,- Whereby the link after having been formed into a U-shape may be passed through two'or more ad-v jacent links in the fabric. To bring this line adjustment. In some cases the pin roll ell is moved longitudinally on its shaft lf3 ii-o requires a very y and tlien the liner 'adjustment is obtained. relative to the operating'pawls by adjusting one of the'cain rolls in the ratchet-bar to` feed the vcarriage step. by. step. Then the carriage has reached the edge of the fabric it is necessary-that when the pawls "are shifted 'to engage the opposite rack-bar, the

invasie pawl casing and the Work carriage to which it is attached will be. fed intermit te'ntly to the right untilv thecam S0 engages the dowiiivardly4 extending end 'il of the 'bai' SS and forces the same inward ,thus permitting the p'lawl shoulder vwhich .it engages, to drop into thenotcli 72 and its pawl to eng-age the opposite rack and reversethe operationof. the machine. l i

Of ycourse When a reverse of tllic carriage drive occurs at- Ithe end of. its tray-*el the pin roll dfi mustn be given a slight partial rotation to raise the row of links that have just beeincoiiipleted a distance substantially equal to one-half the diameter of the rings or links, which isl accomplished by means of the paa'ls Jl 'and |92 engaging the ratchets 9.13 and 94e, respectively, at the proper time, paivl Slpbeing actuated by the pin 95 in the cani Sti and pawld'l by the pin 96 ip the ijzaiiib, all of which is'fully described in the application above referred to.

In forntiii'ig 'the fab ic on our liinproved machine let it be understood .that the link forming tools are relatively fixed and the fabric is,- moved laterally `step by step and presen-tedto receii'e the links from said tools. These links are inserted in the order shown in Fig. 9coniinencing at the left of' the top row, and Working toward the' right, the links are inserted from l to 5. Fig. lO illustrates the position of paWl (36 as having been moved by its rack bar 8l in thcdirectioii of the arrowpto move the fabric int-o position. to re'ceiie the last ring 5 of this lirst reir. The fabric is then raised approxi mately one-half a link diameter and the positions of the paivls as shown in Fig.' l are reversed, Apaivl G62L being dropped into tliepatli' to be engaged with its rack bar. When this bar has coinpletedthe irst,half of itsl first step the 'pawl is then engaged by its totth and the, carriage moved a distance equal to the last half of this step, thereby .nic-ring the fabric into position to receive ring No. (i. -The position of partiv 66a after this completed step is illustrated in l2, the carriage having been moved the distance c relative to thc center lines c. The rack bar S2 non' continues to feed th car the opposite margin of the fbric is reached and ring l0 is inserted when the fabric is again raised one-half a 4link and the rack .bar actuated to feed the carriage one'lialf a step in the oppositedirection into posit-ion' to' receiveI link ll a d so .on'the carriage is carried back and forth until [the fabric is completely woven.

lWe claim: l

1. In a machine of the character'described, a support for a Web of link mesh fabric,r

' atchetineans for actuating said 'supporty to shift thel fabric step by step, means-for reversing the feeding action of said mechanism, and cans in said actuating means 'for' feeding said support but half a s'tep in. the feeding direction at the beginningy of each return travel. A A

,2. In a machine of the character described, aV support for -a web of link mesh fabric,

ratchet bars, means 4for. reciprocating said bars iii oppositedireetions for actuating said support, .means for reversing .tlie' feeding 'action of said bars, and means for controlling the action of said bars Wherebythe support is fed but half a step at the beginning cf each return travel. l

3. In a machine of the character described, a support for a web' of link mesh fabric, ratchet bars, means for reciprocating said bars in oppositie directions for actuating said support, ni'eaiisfor reversing the feeding action of said bars Wlierebytlie support -is fedbut half a step` at the beginning' of each return travel. l f

' 4.-. In ainacliineI of the character described, a support for a web of link niesli fabric,a A.carriage on nfliich said support `is mounted, ratchet bars, -cains for reciprocating said bars in opposite directions. pawls carried' by said carriage for engagingl said ratchet bar, means for controllingsaid pawls whereby the feeding action of said bars is re- .l

versed, and means for positioning said/bars for feeding said supporty but half a step .at the beginning of each return travel. 5. In a machine of the character described, a support for a web of link mesh fabric, a carriage on which said support. is i'iiounted.v ratchet bars, cams for reciprocating said bars in opposite directions, paivls carried by said carriage for engaging said ratchet bars,

for moving said paivls into and out of exi-,1725- gagenient with said mechanismwhereby tli'c feed of saidsupport may b e reversed. y

7. ln a machine of the character described, a support for a web of link .mesh V pawl and ratchet mechanism formactua v a pair of cam actuated pawl controlling bars for moving said pawls into and out of en gagement with sai-d mechanism whereby the feed of said support may be reversed, and a pivot-ed lever connecting said bars whereby they may be manually actuated for reversing the action of thel feeding mechanism.

9. In a machine of the character described,

av support for a web of link mesh fabric, pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said support to shift.v the fabric'step by step, a pair of cani-actuated pawl-controlling bars for moving said' pawls into and out of lengagement -with said mechanism whereby the feed of said support. may be reversed, and means in said ratchet mechanism for feeding said support but half a step at the beginning of each return movement.

10. In a machine vof the characterdescribed, asupport for 'a web of link mesh fabric, pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said suppcrt to shift the fabric step by step, a pair of cam-actuated pawl-controlling bars for |moving said pawls into and out of engagement with said mechanism whereby the feed of said support may be reversed,

at the side margins of the fabric, and means in said mechanism for adjusting the same whereby the support will be moved but half a-step at the beginning 'of each reverse movement. Y

11. I na machine of the character described, a support for a web of link mesh fabric, a carriage on which said support is mounted, ratchet bars, cams for reciprocating said bars 1n opposite directions, pawls carried by said carriage for engaging said ratchet bars, cam-actuated reciprocating controller-bars for controlling said pawls whereby the feed-ing action of said rack-bars 4'is reversed, and means for adjusting said rack-bars longitudinally for feeding said support half a tooth at the beginning of each reverse movement.

". 1-2. In a machine of the character des'ri'bed, a support for a web of link mesh falic, a. carriage on which said support is motinted,'ratchet bars, cams for reciprocatopposite directions, pawls carried by said carriage for engaging said ratciiet ',bars, cam-actuated reciprocating contfller-bars for controlling said pawls whereljvlthejeedihg actionfof said rack-bars .of each reverse is reversed, and an adjustable eccentric in said rack-bars whereby they may be positioned to engage vthe pawls at the beginning lmovement to feed the support half a step.

18. In a machine ofthe character described, a support fora substantially flat web of link meshfabric, a carriage on which said support is mounted, ratchet'bars having means for reciprocating them, pawls carried by said carriage for engaging said ratchet bars, and means for controlling said pawls to permit but one of them at a time to act,said ineans comprising a pair of controller 4barshaving cam surfaces to shift said pawls alternately into operative position.

14. In a machine of the character described, a support for a substantially Hat web of link-mesh fabric, a carriage on 'which said support is mounted, ratchet bars having means for reciprocating them, pawls carried by said carriage for engaging said ratchet bars, and means for controlling said pawls-to permit but one of them at a time toact, said means comprising a pair of controller bars having cain surfaces to' shift' said Apawls alternately into operativey position, and means whereby said ratchet bars may be adjusted longitudinally to engagethe pawls `at the beginning of each reverse stroke to move the support approximately half the4 diameter of a ring.

15. In a machine ofthe character dcscribed, a support for a substantially flat web of link-mesh fabric, a carriage on which said support is mounted, ratchet bars having means for reciprocating them, pa'wls carried by said carriage and engaging said ratchet bars, a pair of controller bars pivotally connected together whereby both are .actuated simultaneousljT to move said pawls,

one into-and one out of engagement with said racks, and means for actuating said bars at opposite edges of the fabric to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage` '16. In a machine of the lcharacter described, a support for a substantially flat web of link-mesh fabi-ic, a carriage on which said support' is mounted, ratchet bars having means for reciprocating them, pawls carried by said carriage and engaging said ratchetA bars, a pair of controller bars pivotally coiijnected together whereby both 'are actuated simultaneously to move said pawls one into and one out of engagement with said racks, a cam for actuating said bars at opposite edges of the fabric to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage, and means in said ratchet bars for adjusting them longitudinally whereby said pawls will' feed-the carria'ge but half a step at the beginning of 4each return movement,

1T. In a machine of the character described, a support for a substantially-'flat .Y web oflinkmesh; fahric, a. carriage on vvhich .said support L mounted, 'ratchet bars havling ,means for' reciprocating them, pawls 4carriedfbyr'said carriage Aand engaging said 'ratchet bars, a palr o Qally connected together whereby' both areaccuatedsimultaneousljf to moves'aid pawls a one into and one out of engagement with said racks, a'cam for( Aactuating said bars 'at `oppositeedges of the Fabric 13o-reverse the direction of travel of the carriage, and an 'adjustable eccentric in said ratchetl bars for'V adjusting" them-longitudinally .relative to 5 said lpawls whereby the latter will' yfeed the -scribed,: a support 'for a'substantially- Hat- .web oflink mesh fabric, acarriage n which `ing means- .for reciprocatingthein; 4pawls.-

carried by said carriage and .engaging 'said Aratchet bars la p-ai'r 'of-controller baci' pivf otallyconnecte'd togethervvhereby both are 'actuated simultaneously to-mov'e said paw'ls one into 'and one out of engagementvvith saidI racks, .a cam for actuatingV said .'bars :1t-.opposite edges 'of the fabric to` reverse controller .bars piv.

means for manually operating` said' controller bars for reversing-the travel of the carriage,` when desired.

.the direction of trav-e1 of .the carriage, and;`

' 19. In 'a machine of the -charactcr described, a support-for a substantiallj7 'hat Web oflink-mesh fabric, a 'c arrageon which saidsupport, isA mounted, ratchetl'iarsV ha'ving means'. for reciprocating' 'them',. paxvls' carried' by .saidcarriage for engaging said simultaneously to move said pawls one into, and one out of engagement; Withsaid rack, .said 'lever 'havingineans iwhereby it may be retained in any'desired' ositionJ and a cam for actuating one of these, bars at opposite y l n vejitremes'of the'carriage traveLorI operat- .sad support is mounted,iratchet bars "hav-.

ing said pawls and reversing the direction 'Witnesses :Av 4

'HOWARD E. BABLOW', 'En I. OWEN.

"ratchet, hairs, and a 'pairof controller bars, `a pi'voted 'manually operablev lever 'connected'to both. bars whereby theya-re actuated 

